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Her family, including her mother Michelle, father Talbot, brother Michael Elkins and his family, and sister Emilee Elkins Daws and her family were present for the proclamation signing with Athens Mayor Ronnie Marks and Limestone County Commission Chairman Collin Daly
ATHENS-I was a reporter at The Decatur Daily when Jessica Elkins died from meningitis the day after Christmas in 2007. She was 15 years old – a freshman at Athens High School.
On the last day of school before Christmas break, she took a test and then started feeling sick at lunch. As the day progressed, she started to ache and throw up. Initial thoughts were it was the flu. A doctor suspected meningitis and sent Jessica to Children’s Hospital in Birmingham. Her health continued to deteriorate. She died on Dec. 26.
Writing about the death of someone so young and during the holidays was an emotional experience. I interviewed her friends from the cheerleading squad, her preacher, and others. They talked about the hole left in their hearts, how the girls planned to continue sleep overs at her house, and how the girls planned to make cookies with her grandmother. Her preacher, Edwin Jenkins told me, “Jessica was taken abruptly, but she has left a lasting influence. She didn’t get to graduate high school, but she has graduated to heaven.”
From that experience, I came to know and love Jessica’s family, and I have watched them ensure her influence is lasting.
Each year they honor her memory by joining us at City Hall to proclaim Jessica’s birthday, Sept. 23, as Meningitis Awareness Day in Athens and Limestone County. Throughout the years they have held fundraisers for a scholarship in her memory and to promote vaccine awareness.
Jessica would have been 30 this birthday.
